Walter e



lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WAI-FLYERl E. AMBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMBERG- STEEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

NUT-MAKING PROCESS.

save metal; and to expedite the production.

A further and special object is to provide forv the continuous production of nuts and the like, in a Wholly automatic way and without Waste, from rod stock which is readily obtainable in the market. A further object of the inventionis to improve the quality and finish of such articles.

My invention comprises a novelwp'rocess and mechanism whereby these objects are attained; and will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawing, in

which: Figure 1 illustrates the direct working partsy which I usein carrying out my novel process, and which themselves constitute a part of the invention; Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive, are like illustrations and depict the successive operations up to the discharge or ejection 4of the finished article; and Fig. 8 depicts several, but not all of the articles which may be produced by the means and in the manner herein specified.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 ,represents a heating muffle or furnace. rlhis is stationary. 2 represents a stationary shield opposite the mouth, 3, of the furnace', 4 represents a reciprocating rod propeller or clutch,

of which`5 is the clutch part, the latter being a 4split cone. 5 represents, a reciprocating die-block, which contains the die-cavity, 7 and a central bore, 9. Thepart, 8, represents a metal rod, which emerges hot from the furnace yand passes through the shield, 2, the clutch, 5, and through the bore, 9, in the die-block, 6. The bore, 9, preferably is slightly larger than the lrod, 8,- to obviate any difficulty with irregularities in the latter. 10 represents a reciprocating die-block, which contains a bore, 11, which is in alinexnent with the bore, 9, of the block, 6, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 1, 1918. Serial No. 214,869.

which preferably is of the same diameter. In the bore, 11, is a reciprocating plunger, 12, of which, 12', is the shank.

The parts above described appear also in each of Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, but in the different relation which they occupy in different stages or steps ofthe process. The several dotted direction lines that connect the several figures are intended to facilitate the reading of the drawing with respect to the movements which take place. In Fig. 1 the arts appear as at the moment of starting t e cycle of operations represented by Figs. 2 to 7.

The shape of the article .produced depends upon the shape of the die-cavity, 7. Obviously, this cavit may be a simple /circular cavity, or may e polygonal or may be a more complex cavity, according to the shape and dimensions of the article to be produced. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 8, articles of various shapes may be produced by changing the configuration of the die opening within and between the dieblock`or members 6' and 10.

In making such articles, I use metal rods; passing them through the heating furnace, 1, and preferably welding the end of one rod to that of the next, so that the process may proceed continuously, and without interruption; and also to avoid a minor waste which would otherwise be suffered through the leavin of shortends of the rods to be cared for. owever, the word continuous, as herein used, relates to the operations upon any single rod,however short or long it may be.

At the start of the cycle, the rod will be found in the position depicted in Fig. 1

The step which begins the cycle, as shown in Fig. 2, consists in pushing the clutch, 4,

forward against the then stationary block, 6. This, obviously, drives the rod forward through the die bore, 9, and the cavity, 7. Thismovement of the rod (by the clutch block) is adjusted to project just so much of the end, A, of\the rod, 8, as will yield a sufcient body of'metal to substantially fill the cavity, 7. I prefer that the block, 10, and plunger, 11, .shall be adjusted so that the end of the rod may be'received in the plunger cavity or bore, 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus provided sufficient metal to form the article, and;I while holding the members, 4 and 6, stationary, I next drive the block, 10, and plunger, 12 toward and against the block 6. This movement upsets the portion, A, of the rod, 8, and thereby atleast partially fills the cavity, 7 thus forming the body of metal, B, as illustrated in Fi 3.

TIaving substantially filled the' cavity, 7, with metal, B, I next drive the plunger, 12, inward, as shown in Fig. 4, to displace from the central portion of the body enough metal to fill all of the corners of the cavity, 7, thus producing the externally completed metal body, C.

Attention is here directed to the fact that in the upsetting operations, (Figs. 2, 3, and 4) the clutch member takes the thrust of the die block, 6; also to the fact that in the upsetting operation the bore, 9, of the block, 6, is completely filled by the upsetting of the metal therein. This upsetting is done against the end of the clutch part, 5, which contains the smaller bore. In this manner I avoid forming a swell or enlargement between the parts 5A and 6, which if formed would prevent the further driving in of the rod. The consumption of metal is made clear'by the sectioned parts, 13, of they rod. An accurate gage may also be noted in the presence of the vsmall shoulder, 14, which is formed on the rod at the point Where the clutch, 5, and the block, 6, abut.

Having completely formed the body of the nut or other article, inthe manner depicted in Fig. 5, I lock the plunger, 12), in position; and then force'the blocks, 6 and 10, forward together, over the end of theplunger. In this manner I' successfully strip or shear the up-setted metal off the centralvv portion of the stock, to-wit, from the portion which initially formed the central part of the body of metal, C. In effect I punch a hole in the body, C, and at the same time leave the punched-out portion or plug still attached to the stock, 8. Inlbrief, I thereby completethe nut without wasting the plug which is usually punched from the center of a nut; accomplishing this by the simple act of stripping the nut off of the parent stock and thus leaving the plug as an integral part vof the parent stock.

The article having been completed within the compass or confinement of the dieblocks, G and 10, I next retract the die-block, 6, and also retract the plunger, 12, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby freeing and discharging or ejecting .the completed nut and at the same time restoring the parts, 6, 10, and 12, to the starting positions, first shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 7 the completed nut, E, is shown in two positions: first as at the instant of the re.

in the art, no part of the operation requires that either the stock or the die blocks shall move slowly. The capacity of the'machine 1s great. It is wholly automatic in operation, once the end of a rod is caught in thev clutch, 5, and power supplied to move the several members described.

As every article is subjected to compression within the restraining die, and as even the central opening in the article is formed While the metal is under compression, the article produced is of superior quality both as to the state of the metal composing it and the character and finish of its surfaces.

By Way of contrast, it .may be stated that in the manufacture of square nuts by ordinary methods, there'l is a waste of metal amountingto about thirty per cent.; and in the usual making of hexagonal nuts, there is a loss of approximately sixty per cent. By my process and mechanism, I accomplish the manufacture of all such articles Without any waste Whatever, and at the same time produce the articles much more rapidly.

I have not herein attempted to illustrate means for imparting movement to the members, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 12. These partsmay be moved by means, of several mechanisms which will suggest themselves to a competent mechanic.

Various modifications of my invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is possible to modify the order of the steps described. Therefore I do not limit the invention to the precise preferred order and construction herein described, except as prescribed by the hereunto appended claims. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and' desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improvement in the art of making meta'l nuts, which consists in advancin the stock, upsetting the end thereof, andt ereafter advancing the upset end to strip it offthe stock. l

2. The improvement in the art of makin metal nuts, which consists in upsetting and shaping an end of the stock and thereafter tudinally of the rod, leaving as the extreme advancln the upset end thereof to form the end of the rod the portion of metal which 10 bore of t 1e nut and to strip it o the stock. previously formed a portion of the upset end 3. The improvement in the art of making thereof.

5 metal nuts, which consists in advancin a In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set metal rod and upsetting the end thereof to my hand this 25th day of January, 1918. form the body of the nut, and then stripping A olf the nut by moving thenut portion long- VALTER E. AMBERG. 

